In a letter to the Joint Finance Committee sent recently, the Department of Health Services, reported that the Medicaid program projects a surplus of $414.5 million GPR for the 2021-2023 biennium at the end of the fourth quarter.

Because the COVID-19 health emergency was recently renewed, the extended enhanced FMAP further increased the surplus from the March report of $406 million. Any future changes to the health emergency will result in updated reports.

WHCA/WiCAL continues to advocate that surplus Medicaid dollars originally allocated for long-term care providers be recycled  through the nursing facility Medicaid reimbursement system and Family Care to ensure that State Budget money intended for long-term care actually makes its way to providers. WHCA/WiCAL will also continue to push for systemic changes to reimbursement processes so Medicaid dollars are not defaulted back to the state’s General Fund.